Replies

1. 
   baseboardking | Jul 15, 2003 01:28am | #1

   NORCO windows,division of Jeld-Wen has a great sash replacement kit for most sizes,using a friction balance. Keep in mind,however, that it would be very unusual for your cord & weight windows to NOT have a service access door, beveled into the side jamb. It's probably painted over,but look for it. When C&W windows were built, it was expected that the cords would be replaced several times over the life of the window.

   Baseboard been VERRRY good to me
1. 
   AaronRosenthal | Jul 16, 2003 08:49am | #2

   Nope.

   My house has no access panel for the weights. A house I'm working on right now has no access panel.

   Only one house I've ever worked on has access panels, and that's one that was in a very high cost area, then & now.

   I take off the exterior trim, replace the cords with new & wax them, oil the rollers, install insulation & put on new exterior trim.

   Vola!Quality repairs for your home.

   Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada

1. 
   Davo304 | Jul 17, 2003 10:33am | #4

   Aaron,

   Ditto what Miles of Trim had to say....access panels in cord and weighted windows ARE THE NORM. ( at least that was always my impression) High society area has nothing to do with it. Practically every window installed back in the 30s, 40s and 50s  in my blue-collared steel town were CW windows. I've replaced qiuite a few, and all had access panels.  Most of the weights were cigar shaped and made from lead or cast iron. I've also encountered weights that were made from thin, flat-bar steel stock. All had access panels located in the jambs.

   Based on what you are saying, perhaps access panels are  more of a regional thing. Perhaps the windows for your area was mfg. locally and that was the norm for them...but it does seem strange to me. Even in basic carpentry text books, they too depict access panels in their drawings of these style of windows.

   Davo

1. 
   Miles717 | Jul 17, 2003 11:05am | #5

   I always thought that as well until I moved to PDX.  Our home and most of the older homes that friends own don't have an access panel.  It might just be an odd regional thing.  Ours was built in 1909 and I've restored some of the windows so far and am working my way around our house.  I've had to remove the casings in order to get at the weights to replace the sash cord. 

   I looked at the same thing that PDXDan is looking for and ultimately settled on replacing the cords and giving the sashes a few hidden improvements that I think have been far easier and quite a bit less expensive.  I invested in some nylon pile weatherstripping which installs into a groove routed in the sides of the sash and a low profile pvc weatherstrip on the meeting rails that installs the same way.  I put a silicone bulb weatherstrip in the top rail of the upper and the bottom rail of the lower and replace the cotton sash cord with a nylon one which will last much longer.  Reinstall the casings and a little putty and touchup paint and you're set to go.

   Once you do those things, the sash glides EXTREMELY smoothly, it no longer leaks air, and never rattles with the wind or when the buses go by.  I invested about $100 in the materials and have enough to so about ten double hung sashes.  When I get low, I'll restock.  The weatherstrip can be purchased through Resource Conservation Technology.   I frequently see their ads in FHB and in some of the more restoration oriented magazines.  Granted, I think Dan was looking for an option that did not require removing the casings, but for a lot less money and only a bit more labor, I thought it might be worth throwing it out there as another option. 

2. 
   Luka | Jul 17, 2003 12:06pm | #6

   I worked on many c&w windows in Indiana. Never saw one that didn't have an access panel.

   Worked on a housefull here in Seattle, and about a third of them did not have access panels, 2/3 did. In that one house.

   Go figger. A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.

   Quittin' Time

2. 
   MojoMan | Jul 16, 2003 02:46pm | #3

   I'm in the Boston area, and the vinyl spring balances I use probably come throuh the same wholesalers as the one on TOH (BROSCO). As long as you buy the right length, they are a snap to use. Check with  local window and door dealers, particulary ones that sell sash and other old-style wood windows. They may have them.

   Al Mollitor, Sharon MA